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The Invention Phase (Canon One)
Yesterday, I introduced the Five Canons of Rhetoric. Today, we will take a closer look at the first of these canons, called "Invention". The Invention phase is the brainstorming phase. This is the stage when you will brainstorm ideas of what you wish to say, and how...
Five Canons of Rhetoric
Organized by Cicero, the Five Canons of Rhetoric are a system of creating powerful speeches and writing. 150 years after Cicero, Quintilian explored the Five Canons in greater depth. A couple of thousand years later, here we are still examining these words, albeit in...
Connect with Logos
Today we will briefly examine the third of Aristotle’s “artistic proofs”: logos. Logos is an appeal to logic, or the ability to connect with the audience or reader with reason or logic. The Greek root “logo” or “log” means “word”, and the word “logical” is...
Connect with Pathos
Today, we will consider the second of Aristotle's "artistic proofs" (i.e., means of persuasion): pathos. Pathos is the emotional appeal, or the ability to connect emotionally with your audience. Pathos is the Greek word for "suffering", and related English derivatives...
Connect with Ethos
Would you like to communicate more effectively with your audience? Starting today, for the month of October, I’ll be sharing one tip per day, to help you communicate your ideas more effectively with your audience, through speech or writing. To start off this series,...
Finally
Finally A road gravel Gray, brown, quiet Leading back to home Dust stirred up by walking I waited for words to be spoken Maybe the leaves would whisper Or I’d hear through the crunch of gravel I thought, at times, it echoed in the trees, When I...
On the River
On the river, anything can happen. A beautiful, picturesque day can quickly turn cloudy. A mistake in boating can result in misery. The river changes; one day, the levels are low, the next day, after a heavy rain, the levels can be high. It is never the same. The...
“You Love the Roses…”
"You love the roses - so do I. I wish the sky would rain down roses, as they rain from off the shaken bush. Why will it not? Then all the valley would be pink and white and soft to tread on. They would fall as light as feathers, smelling sweet; and it would be...
Lake Song
I discovered the lake that summer Deliberately arriving to see stars at midnight Reflecting like white diamonds In silken waters I heard the crickets Familiar, comforting sound Lulled me to sleep as a child Like a soft, summer rain Under lacy pines...
Carnival
It was a snap-decision Pretty soon fog and mirrors Multiplied I couldn’t discern the way out Something true, something lovely, Something good, something excellent Existed – outside the fun maze. From where had I come? Mazes are lonely places A strange sort of...
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